LU honors Xu as 2013 University Scholar

Qiang Xu has been selected as Lamar University’s 2013 University Scholar. President James Simmons announced the honor during a ceremony April 10 in the University Reception Center of the Mary and John Gray Library. The University Scholar Award is the most prestigious research honor bestowed upon a faculty member at Lamar.

“The criteria encompass current and continuous exemplary scholarly research and projected future impact for the University. Without a doubt his collaboration on industry projects with five major corporations is exceptional and a role model for public/private research,” said Jack Hopper, dean, college of engineering. “Dr. Xu's scholarly endeavors continue the high standard for outstanding research performance by Lamar's faculty.”

Xu’s research is in the areas of large-scale dynamic simulation and optimization, production scheduling and planning, multi-scale systems integration, soft-sensor technique development, and industrial pollution. He has published more than 63 peer-reviewed research papers, and has served as principal or co-principal investigator on funded projects totaling in excess of $1 million. These include funding from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense and leading petrochemical companies.

Xu joined the Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical Engineering in 2005. He has secured 23 research projects and given 93 invited lectures and international conference presentations. Four of his papers published within the last two years have received best paper awards, respectively, from three different American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) divisions. Because of his excellence in research, he has been appointed as the chair-elect of Process Research and Innovation Subdivision of AIChE, and the programming chair of the Green Chemistry and Green Engineering Subdivisions of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Xu has chaired 13 sessions for various international conferences, and reviewed numerous papers for 19 peer-reviewed journals and 15 international conferences.

The recipient of this award is selected by faculty peers for achievement in scholarly and creative activities. The selection criteria include current significant scholarly activities and a history of ongoing exemplary scholarship spanning the previous five years. All faculty members who have been employed by Lamar University for at least five years are eligible for the award, but no one may receive the award twice. The award comes with a $5,000 stipend, which the recipient may use to support his or her future scholarly objectives.